Opposition Parties and Voters Question the Credibility of Niger State Local Government Elections
Opposition parties and voters in Niger State have raised serious concerns about the conduct of Saturday’s local government elections, alleging widespread irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and manipulation in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Reports from across the 25 local government areas (LGAs) highlighted the late arrival or, in some cases, the complete absence of electoral officials and materials at polling units. These issues have fueled accusations that the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) may have colluded with the APC to suppress voter turnout and manipulate results.
Despite the ongoing collation of official results, the APC appears to be leading in both chairmanship and councillorship races. However, protests erupted in Suleja, Wushishi, Lavun, and other LGAs, where voters claimed that results were tampered with and that security agents engaged in intimidation tactics.
Voter Complaints and Missing Materials
At the Veterinary Polling Unit in Nassarawa A Ward, Chanchaga LGA, voter Musa Usman Wada told Daily Trust that the voter register used during the election had been altered, disenfranchising hundreds of voters. He noted that the expected number of voters was around 1,500 based on previous elections, but the register displayed only under 500 names. “Many came as early as 6 a.m., but voting didn’t start even by 11 a.m. People got tired and left,” he said.
In Rijau LGA, opposition parties claimed that no election took place. A viral video featured PDP Returning Officer for Rijau, Abdullahi Shehu Mohammed, who alleged that most electoral materials were withheld at the NSIEC office. “Of the 40,000 ballot papers meant for Rijau, only 35,800 were distributed,” he said. “As of 5 p.m., the Electoral Officer was nowhere to be found, and no supervisors or presiding officers were seen. We want the world to know that no election was held in Rijau.”
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairman for Chanchaga LGA, Hon. Isah Barau, described the exercise as “neither credible nor transparent.” He noted that while there were 220,000 registered voters, only 110,000 ballot papers were distributed. “In polling units with 1,000 registered voters, just 300 ballot papers were provided. Voting began late, and materials were shared at the Minna Central Police Station instead of the NSIEC office.”
Bello Nasiru Gabas, PDP Secretary in Chanchaga, alleged that party officials were harassed and detained. “On Friday night, when we demanded to know what happened to the missing ballot papers, security agents fired shots and teargas to disperse us,” he said. “Our deputy chairman was arrested and our vehicles seized. This was not an election; it was daylight robbery.”
Efforts to reach APC State Publicity Secretary, Musa Danjuma Sarkinkaji, for comments were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Governor’s Convoy Attacked in Bida
Meanwhile, Governor Umar Bago’s convoy was attacked on Sunday by angry youths in his hometown of Bida. The mob reportedly pelted vehicles with stones, injuring several people, including one of the governor’s close aides, Abubakar Mustapha, Chairman of the New Niger Development Project.
Sources told Daily Trust that the unrest followed a failed cash-sharing exercise allegedly organized by the governor ahead of the elections. Bago was said to have distributed money to only a few among hundreds who gathered at his residence, sparking outrage. The youths reportedly destroyed the governor’s billboards and vandalized several vehicles. The attack occurred two days after a stampede at a similar event in Bida, where a teenage girl reportedly died and several others were injured. Some women were said to have faced domestic repercussions after attending the event without their husbands’ consent.
Several calls put across to the Chief Press Secretary went unanswered. Similarly, calls to the Special Adviser to the governor on Communication Strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, were not answered.
APC Suspends Lawmaker Over Alleged Anti-Party Activity
In a related development, the Niger State APC has suspended Yusuf Kure Baraje, member representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for alleged anti-party activities during the council polls. The suspension letter, signed by Baba Achi, APC Chairman of Paikoro LGA, stated: “This letter serves as formal confirmation of your indefinite suspension from our party following a recommendation by the executives of the Amale B Polling Unit of Ishau Ward.”
Baraje was directed to withdraw from all party activities and stop parading himself as an APC member. He was accused of working against the incumbent council chairman, Aminu Umar Yadayi. The development deepens existing cracks within the party in Paikoro LGA, where factions have been at odds since last year’s controversial consensus arrangement.
In July, Justice Abdullahi Mikaili of the Niger State High Court, Minna, ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to the incumbent council chairman after ruling that Ibrahim Abdullahi Aloma was the duly selected consensus candidate.
As the dust settles from the contentious polls, questions persist over the credibility of the exercise and whether NSIEC can restore public confidence ahead of future elections.